Where are the avocados? Don’t worry, the supermarket lighting will tell you!

Intelligent in-store LED lighting communicates with your smartphone to send you special offers and information based on your location

February 17, 2014

Euroshop, Düsseldorf (Germany) - Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), the global leader in lighting, is piloting an intelligent lighting system that gives new meaning to personalized shopping. The system uses intelligent LED in-store lighting to communicate location-based information to shoppers via a smartphone app which they can opt to download. The lighting communicates with the app to send special offers and information to the shopper, relevant to their location in the store. The lighting system, which is currently being piloted with retailers, is being demonstrated at Euroshop, the world’s leading retail show in Düsseldorf (February 16-20, 2014).

Philips’ connected retail lighting system will benefit shoppers by giving them greater personal control of their shopping experience. Retailers will benefit by building customer loyalty and sales by providing targeted information and discount coupons at their precise position in the store, when shoppers need it most and are most receptive¹. Retailers will also benefit from Philips’ energy efficient LED lighting which provides improved lighting levels and lower electricity bills.

“The beauty of the system is that retailers do not have to invest in additional infrastructure to house, power and support location beacons for indoor positioning,’’ said Gerben van der Lugt from Philips Lighting ‘’The light fixtures themselves can communicate this information by virtue of their presence everywhere in the store.’’

The system works by using lighting fixtures that form a dense network that not only provide high quality light but also acts as a positioning grid. Each fixture is identifiable and able to communicate its position to an app on a shopper’s smart device. This enables the shopper to get information related to his position in the store as they move around the store and location-based services to be triggered. Communication with the smartphone is by Visual Light Communications.

Find me the guacamoleIf a shopper plans to make a Mexican meal for dinner, the app on their smart phone can serve as a ‘personal shopper.’ It can point him or her to the aisle where they would find a jar of guacamole, or, if they preferred to make it fresh, plot a route through the aisles to the avocados, tomatoes, onions, chilies and limes. As the shopper approaches various products, the app could also introduce new brands available in the store or make suggestions for alternate recipes.

This latest connected lighting innovation illustrates how Philips is taking light beyond illumination, underlining its commitment to deliver meaningful innovations that improve both business value and people’s lives.

Infographic

For further information, please contact:

About Royal Philips:

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2013 sales of EUR 23.3 billion and employs approximately 115,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter